POLICE have appealed for information for a hoax security alert at pitches used by East Belfast GAA club as a training ground.

Chief Superintendent Jonathan Roberts said; “At 8pm yesterday evening, Wednesday 5th August, Police received an anonymous call that a number of explosive devices had been left at playing fields at Church Road in Castlereagh.

“Officers attended, liaised with the local GAA team using the facility, closed the site and maintained a safety cordon overnight until a full search was carried out this morning.

“Nothing untoward was found and the facility has re-opened.

“We have launched an investigation into the incident, which we are treating as a sectarian hate crime and have forensically examined a nearby public telephone box.

“I would also ask anyone who was in the area at the time who saw anyone acting suspiciously, or anyone with information which could help our investigation, to contact police on 101 quoting reference number 1693 05/08/20.

“A report can also be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.